The Only Major Actor Still Alive From The Cast Of 1964's Bewitched
"Bewitched" stands out as one of the most prominent and influential sitcoms from the '60s. Thanks to its simple premise and impressive cast, the series continues to find fans in the 21st century. "Bewitched" follows the exploits of Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery), a witch who marries the mortal, totally not magical Darrin Stephens (Dick York). Despite trying her best to be a housewife, Samantha often ends up using her witch powers to make life easier, leading to chaotic situations. While the ABC series is now a staple of the small screen and widely remembered for its bold jokes and fusion of fantasy and comedy, it had its fair share of pitfalls.
The production of the series was complicated, with York leaving "Bewitched" halfway through its run. Over time, audiences lost interest in the show, with ratings starting to decline around York's departure. Ultimately, the series called it quits in 1972, wrapping up with eight seasons. Today, the show's legacy is apparent, with "Bewitched" influencing generations of creatives, notably serving as one of the many inspirations for Marvel Studios' "WandaVision." The series also made the jump to the big screen thanks to director Nora Ephron, with "Bewitched" now on track to receive another movie reboot.
Sixty years after its debut, the show's clout continues to grow, but time has taken its toll on its creatives. A number of "Bewitched" actors you may not know have passed away. Today, there's only one major actor still alive from the series, and it's none other than Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha Stephens.
What did Erin Murphy do after Bewitched?
Tabitha Stephens was first introduced in Season 2 of "Bewitched." The daughter of Samantha (Montgomery) and Darrin (York), the role was given to twins Erin and Diane Murphy in Season 3. As the twins grew older and began to look different, Erin remained the sole actress to play Tabitha. Erin starred as the character for over 100 episodes, staying with the show until its eighth and final season in 1972.
Murphy started work on the series relatively young and, for a while, it seemed like all there was to life was playing Tabitha. "Since I started so early, it was like I felt that I had ALWAYS been on television," Murphy told Bewitched.net. She admitted there were other shows she liked better, as she wanted to be on other hits like "The Brady Bunch" and "Partridge Family' instead. "I liked 'Bewitched,' but I really couldn't appreciate the writing and things when I was a kid," the actor said.
After "Bewitched" wrapped up, Murphy decided to expand her career, appearing in a number of commercials during the '70s. Murphy continued to appear on television, emerging as a contestant on the NBC game show "Identity" in the 2000s. Additionally, wrestling fans might recognize Murphy as Mistress of Mayhem from "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling." She even popped up on "RuPaul's Drag U."
While speaking with KCAL News, Murphy explained how she doesn't understand the idea of retirement, discussing how she wants to continue to act. She is also active on social media platforms such as X, formerly known as Twitter, where she shares her daily happenings with her fans.